[en] In this article, the author thinks that doctors can't know all on the ionizing radiations, radioactivity, nuclear energy, action to be taken in case of an accident... He thinks that doctors are only responsible for the radiation protection of patients and that the administration must inform and educate all citizens, including doctors

[en] The expert's role in the involvement in decisions on nuclear risks is discussed. The responsibility of scientists in ethics and in several sociological problems is highlighted. The mandates, the positivist reaction, way to knowledge, the scientist as a subject studying an object, and application in the domain of radioprotection are the main issues of the somewhat philosophical essay. (R.P.)

No abstract available

[en] The essential information needed by physicians and pharmacists for an efficient intervention in case of exposure to ionizing radiations is presented. (MCB)

[en] After a small presentation of the international recommendations supporting decision-making, this paper presents the limits of them. For example, particular groups such as pregnant women, are not taken into account. As a matter of fact, the belgium approach is as follows: take into account the more recent risk evaluation for radiation-induced effects, give priority to protecting public health (instead of purely financial cost/benefit analysis), integrate countermeasures aiming at preventive protection of the food chain... But, it should be stressed that those measures present several problems. The main one concerns the information of the public, which should be given as fast as possible. (TEC)

[en] In the European Union, medical exposures are regulated through the adoption into national legislations of the Euratom BSS directive and the Medical Exposure directive, which is mandatory for Member States. The Medical Exposure directive addresses the justification issue through direct requirements, including the mandatory availability of referral criteria and the need for education and training. This paper describes the implementation of those requirements in France and Belgium, and draws three major conclusions from the experience gained in these two countries. (author)

[en] The recommendations of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP 60) to be applied in the European Union from the year 2000 imply a limit of the annual dose of 1 mSv for public as well as the compliance with the dose constraints. In order to verify the possibility of observing these new standards without losing the very favourable cost-profit of the ¹³¹I therapy in thyroiditis, 73 members of patient families treated by radioiodine were surveyed by direct dosimetry. A number of 22 patients afflicted with thyroid cancer received doses of 3700 to 7400 MBq and 18 hyperthyroid patients received 200 to 600 MBq. Dosemeters mounted around the neck were carried for 2-3 weeks by 35 spouses and 38 children 4 months to 25 years old. The residual thyroid radioactivity and the T_1/2 of ¹³¹I were measured by gamma chambers in every patients. In the group of patients with thyroid cancers the effective T_1/2 is 2.2 days. The doses measured in families are lower than 1 mSv in any spouses and lower than 0.3 mSv in all the children except one. In hyperthyroid patients the effective T_1/2 is 6.2 days. The average dose received is 1.04 mSv (0.05-5.2) for spouses and 0.13 mSv (0.04-3.1) for children. These direct dosimetry data are reliable and allow to propose reasonable and efficient restrictions which will not compromise neither the efficiency of treatment or the environment safety

[en] EURATOM directives providing for the information and education of medical personnel in the field of radiation protection, the authors present the orientations that have been chosen in Belgium for the education of medical students, medical officers, radiologists, radiotherapists and dentists

[en] The essential information needed by physicians and pharmacists for an efficient intervention in case of exposure to ionizing radiation is presented. (MCB)

[en] After a short historical review, the goals of the ICRU are first presented: definition of quantities and units to be used in the field of ionising radiation, recommendations of measurement procedures for these quantities, definitions of terms and concepts, and investigation and selection of physical parameters. As far as the other international organisations are concerned, some of the main achievements are briefly presented for the IEC, UNSCEAR, ICRP, WHO and IAEA. Besides technical developments and dosimetric intercomparisons, the importance of the education and of the continuous information of the radiologists is stressed. The role played by the CEC in education is recognised in the field of radiation protection in diagnostic radiology